Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Doctors.

Bernard Allen

Question:

157 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Medical Organisation has threatened renewed strike action over the way hospitals are assessing overtime payments agreed in 2000 for junior hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17351/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

On 30 May I met the Irish Medical Organisation in relation to the ongoing implementation of the non-consultant hospital doctors agreement, 2000. Many issues were addressed during the course of this meeting, in particular the ongoing difference in interpretation regarding the application of overtime rates. Again I requested that the matter should be referred to the Labour Relations Commission for its considered view. Both the HSEA and my Department agree to accept the outcome of such clarification by the LRC.

I wish to highlight again the fact that £90 million in additional funding has been allocated to NCHDs in the current year. There has been, and will continue to be, very significant investment in the terms and conditions applicable to NCHDs. Further progress in this regard was reached at the meeting on 30 May.

The NCHD training grant will be applied to the purchase of laptops with up to a maximum of £1,500 payable from the training grant once in every three year period. It was clarified that those specialist registrars who undertake research as an obligatory part of their training programme are entitled to the £3,000 training grant per annum.

Significant progress has also been made in relation to the appointment of medical manpower managers. A highly successful Health Service Employers Agency and Department of Health and Children seminar for medical manpower managers took place on 28 and 29 May. As many as 16 of the new managers attended. The seminar covered areas ranging from the working hours and medical manpower reports to the NCHD contract, the management of change and local consultation with NCHDs.

A review of current local consultation arrangements took place at the seminar and the need to pro-actively address this issue was recognised. To this end the IMO has agreed to furnish a list of its representatives in individual hospitals to facilitate a more proactive and successful institutionalisation of this consultative mechanism.